UNHCR Hands Over Facilities

The United Nation's High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR), the UN refugee agency in Ghana, has handed over its infrastructural facilities in the Gomoa District to government institutions on Wednesday. The facilities include three 12-classroom block of schools, a 21-bed health centre with an in-patient department, a maternity and labour ward, laboratory facilities, clinic as well as a designated Voluntary counselling and Testing Centre (VCT) for Buduburam and its environs.

The structures, totalling some $700,000 have been built over the years for use by refugees and Ghanaians and would continue to benefit of UNHCR assistance until they are fully incorporated into national institutions and begin to enjoy full government assistance.

Receiving the facilities on behalf of the government, Dr. Kwasi Appea-Kubi, Deputy Minister for the Interior expressed the gratitude of government of Ghana to the UNHCR for the facilities which will be under the Ministries of Education and Health.

He said Ghana has since its independence played host to refugees from all parts of the continent and would continue to honourits obligations under the various refugee conventions.

Dr. Appea-Kubi urged the refugees to take good care of the facilities to ensure that it stands the test of time, advising them “to respect and maintain cordial relations with the local community to ensure the maintenance of peace at all times.”

He assured them that as long as they remain in Ghana since the voluntary repatriation has ended, “you would be accorded the necessary protection under international law and you must also obey and respect the laws of Ghana.”

Dr. Appea-Kubi appealed to them that though the voluntary repatriation has ended, “with the return of peace to Liberia, I wish to urge our brothers and sisters to take advantage to return and contribute their quota.”

He said the government together with UNHCR was currently undertaking a verification exercise to determine the exact number of refugees remaining on the settlement “to inform us on the way forward in the implementation of the Tripartite Agreement for another voluntary repatriation.”

Ms Aida Haile Mariam, the UNHCR Representative in Ghana said Ghana's track record in providing a safe haven to so many victims of forced displacement is remarkable

She said the UNHCR hoped that some of the refugees who have over the time developed cultural, family and economic ties in Ghana through intermarriages with Ghanaian would continue to benefit from the exemplary Ghanaian generosity and hospitality.

Ms Mariam said the UNHCR also plans to build quarters to accommodate staffs who work under the police service, Education service, Fire Service, and Health Service who will be transferred to the facilities.

“It is believed, those initiatives, costing an additional $900,000 will help improve the safety and security concerns in the area”, she said.

Sod was therefore cut for the projects while the Police Administration was handed a Hilux double cabin vehicle to be used by the police to patrol the area.